The week ahead

Having gorged on a confectioner’s row of cupcakes for much of their 17-game win streak, the Spurs’ schedule turns decidedly tougher as they enter the home stretch. Their next eight foes all have winning records, with almost all of them angling for playoff seeding and/or battling to make it at all.

It begins with a brutal week, featuring road trips to Indiana and Oklahoma (combined home record: 63-11) sandwiched around a visit from Golden State. The latter game completes a stretch of five games in seven nights, making it a prime candidate for coach Gregg Popovich to rest his troops. Then comes a home game against a Memphis team fighting for its playoff life.

at Indiana (52-22) 6 p.m. Monday

The Pacers have slumped badly in recent weeks, losing 9 of their past 15 to fall behind the Spurs in the race for the NBA’s best record. Having struggled to score point all season, the Pacers are averaging just 96.6 points per 100 possessions in that span. But their league-best defense has also lost some bite with a drop of five points. They remain a tough out at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, however, boasting the NBA’s best home record at 33-4.

Golden State (45-28) 7:30 p.m. Wednesday

At .625, the Warriors have their best winning percentage since 1991-92, at which point All-Star point guard Stephen Curry was just four years old. Still, there’s a lingering sense of disappointment that the Warriors, despite adding Andre Iguodala during the offseason, haven’t been able to crack the Western Conference’s upper division. An 0-3 record against the Spurs hasn’t helped, the last loss coming at home as Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili watched.

at Oklahoma City (54-19) 7 p.m. Thursday

The Thunder almost certainly must beat the Spurs at home if they’re to have any shot of sprinting past them at the finish for the Western Conference title. As mentioned, they could very well get an assist from Popovich. But even at full strength, the Spurs will have their hands full against a Thunder team that has already clinched the season series at 3-0, with Kevin Durant (32.2 ppg, 38 straight games with at least 25) in the midst of his best season.

Memphis (43-30) 6 p.m. Sunday

Getting upset by the eighth-seeded Grizzlies in the first round of the 2011 playoffs remains one of the darker moments in Spurs franchise history. They’ve had almost no trouble with Memphis since, winning eight straight meetings and 13 of the past 15. The Grizzlies had been floundering during Marc Gasol’s absence with a knee injury. But they’re 26-10 since his return, allowing 98.1 points/100 in that span, to climb back into the playoff picture.